Filler cap for fuel tanks and the like



1950' F. R. AMBROSE 2,517,372

FILLER CAP FOR FUEL TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed May 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if INVEN TOR.

5 [fa/x 4416:?056 Mad? Arr/0 6145%? g- 1950 F. R. AMBROSE FILLER CAP FOR FUEL TANKS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1949 'INVENTOR. EL)! 1?. 44154055 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 FILLER CAP FOR FUEL TANKS AND THE LIKE Felix R. Ambrose, West Englewood, N. J assignor to Air Associates, Incorporated, Teterboro, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application May 20, 1949, Serial No. 94,305

Claims. (Cl. 220-40) This invention relates to a filler cap for fuel tanks and the like. I

An object of the invention is to provide a filler cap which constitutes an effective liquidtight closure and which can be conveniently and I quickly secured in closed. position and readily removed for uncovering thefilling opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filler cap having bayonet type connection for securing the same in the filling opening and which includes a dish shaped spring expandable radially by inward closing movement of thegcap for sealing the opening and for tensioning the cap in closed relation. I

Another object of. the invention is to provide a filler cap of the indicated character in which a flexible resilient ring is fitted over the periphery of the dish shaped spring and which is compressed against the wall of the opening by the closing movement of the cap for sealing the same. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a tank having a filling opening pro: vided with a replaceable metallic ring formed with bayonet type slots adapted to be engaged by arcuate rim portions of the cap for securing the cap in closed relation in the filling. opening and for tightening the same against annular resilient rings for sealing the closure. I

Still another object of the invention. is the provision of a filler capwhich is so constructed and arranged that the same is moved inwardly a few hundredths of an inch to effectively close and seal the opening. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference isnow made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the inventioni illustrated. I I I I In the drawings: I r Fig. 1 isa top planview: of. a filler cap forfuel tanks and the like. constructed in accordance ;with the invention and showing the same in closed positionon a tank. I Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1 with the tank partly broken away and the filler capshown in side elevation and in separated juxtaposition.

.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 3- 3 of Fig. l. r I Fig. 4 is. a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on lined-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is asimilarv view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1." I

Fig. Bis a vertical sectional view of'thedish shapedspring.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the filler cap indicated generally by the reference character I!) is adapted to be arranged in closing relation in the filling opening I l in a fuel tank I2 or the like. The filling opening I I is formed in an annular frame I13 having an upper flange I4 extending peripherally about the annular wall I5 thereof and secured by circumferentially spaced screws I6 to the top wall ll of the tank. The frame I3 is also formed with a peripheral flange I8 extending inwardly from the lower end of the annular wall [5, and the flange having an inwardly extending annular lip l9 about its inner periphery with the inner edge of the flange and lip defining the filling opening.

Secured upon the upper face of the flange I8 by circumferentially spaced screws 20 is a metallic ring member 2| having diametrically opposed vertically arranged slots 22 in the inner periphery thereof which open through the upper and lower faces of said ring member. The said slots communicate with rectangular shaped recesses 23 formed in the inner and lower faces of said ring member and which extend about the ring mem-- ber approximately through an arc of degrees in clockwise direction. The upper faces of the recesses 23 extend downwardly in angular relation from the slots 22 to the shoulders 24 forming cam faces 25, with the shoulders 24 forming notches and providing rectangular recesses 26 disposed above the lower ends of the cam faces 25 respectively.

The ring member 2| is recessed in the upper face thereof adjacent the outer annular edge as at 2 1 with an undercut 28 in which is fitted a gasket 29 of flexible resilient material which projects upwardly beyond the upper face of the ring member with the outer annular face thereof disposed against the inner face of the annular wall I5 and with the arcuate upper face3l] extending into the undercut 28.

The cap Ill consists of an annular body 32 having an axial opening 33 and the same is formed with a peripheral flange 34 extending laterally outward from the top thereof and adapted to overlie the ring member 2! with the outer peripheral portion of the flange adapted to seat on the gasket 29 when the cap is arranged in the filling opening II. The body 32 is also formed with arcuate projections 35 extending outwardlyfrom the periphery thereof in diametrically opposed relation and which are of a length to pass downwardly in the slots 2:2 and to engage against thecam faces 25 when the filler cap is rotated in the filling opening and to be configuration so that the same received in the recesses 26 to latch the filler cap in position in the filling opening. The axial opening 33 extends medially through the laterally extending upwardly projecting rib 36 which forms a handle member for gripping the filler cap for turning the same in the filling opening. A stud 31 is arranged in said axial opening 33 for relative turning movement of'the cap with relation thereto and the same is secured therein by means of a screw 38 threadedly engaged in the upper end thereof with a lock washers-39 disposed between the head of the screw and theupper end of the stud and with the enlarged lower end 40 of the stud protruding through the enlarged lower end of the axial-opening.

opening H, and to prevent theuarcuate lprojections 35 from being accidentally or unintentionally disengaged from. the recesses 26, a'dish'or frusto-conical shaped metallic spring 4! is secured 1 on the stud 1'31 between'the flange thereof and arnut e3: threadedlyl engaged on the enlarged lower end awthereof. 'The said spring underlies the annular body .32 and iszprovided with an annular sealing ring Ml of flexible resilient material secured over the outer periphery thereof and :which is adapted to seaton the annular lip l9 and to be impinged thereagainst and against the inner periphery of itheflange? L8 swhen thezfiller cap is tightened inthe r filling opening by rotating the same to cam the arcuate projections 35 against the cam faces 25 andto dispose the arcuate projections in qtightenedmelation in the recesses 6.

The sealing ring 44 is formed with an -arcuately shaped outer :periphery '45 in cross-sectional will engage against the inner periphery of the flange; lit-and the. upper face'of the annular lip l9 when the filler cap is tightened in the filling opening. The spring M willbe deformed from the frustoconical cross-sectional configuration to a-slibstantially flattened formation when'the filler'cap is tightened in the fillingopening and the downward flexing of the said spring to-substantially flattened formation elfects lateral outward-movement of the periphery thereof together with the annular sealing ring M to impinge the sarne tightly against the inner periphery of the flange I 8 and downwardly against the'annular lip l9. Thetightening movement of the filler cap 'inthe filling opening also tightens the flangel'fl against the gasket 29 to form a leak-proof connection. The nut 43 is recessed in its lower face in' which is arranged a resilient sealing ring 46 which-em gages against the upper face of the spring- 41 to form .aleak-proof connection betweenthe nut and the spring.

What is claimed is:

,1. Ina device of the character descr'ibedy-a frame aflixed to a tank and having an inwardly directed annular flange defining a Iflllingopen- I In order to tension the filler cap in the filling sheet metal spring of frusto-conical shape having its apical end affixed to a central portion of the lower face of said cap and adapted to be tensioned downwardly about the annular flange of said frame when the said projections of the cap are impinged against said cam faces.

2. In a device-of the characterdescribed, a frame affixed to a tank-and having an inwardly directed annular flange defining a filling open- 1 ing, an annular ring secured upon said flange, :said ring having spaced upwardly extending slots .in'itsinner periphery arranged in communication respectively with recesses extending arcuately about itsinnergperiphery and having cam faces onLthe upper walls of said recesses, an annular gasket secured to the upper face of said ring, a

xfillerzcap having an annular flange adapted to seat on said gasket and having outwardly extending spaced arcuate projections adapted to pass downwardly in said slots and engage against said cam faces 'respectively :when v:the cap is turned in the filling opening, a sheet .metahspi'ing of "frusto-conical shape having .--its :rapical rend affixed to'a central portion of theilowerxfa'cewof said cap, and-a flexible resilient sealing Tringisecured over the outeriperiph'ery .ofzssaidspringand adapted I to seat on the; annular "r flange 7:0f said frame and to be tensionedithereagainst.1when -the said projections of -1 therzcap' rare impinged against said cam faces .to thereby: tighten gathe :sannular flange of the capiagainstsaid annulargasket.

'3. In a device 'of ltheaicharacter .describedna frame afiixed to a tank 'andthaving anrinwardly directed annular flange definingarfillingopening, an annular ring secured upon said 1 -flange, said ring" having spaced upwaridlydirectede slots in: its inner periphery arranged 3 in communication 1 respectively-with recesses extendingannularlyabout its inner periphery and havingccamifacesxomthe upper walls of said recesses an :?annular: ;gasket secured to the upper=face of said ring,r:awfillericap having an annular 'flangeaadapted toseatronxsaid gasket and having outwardly aextending; spaced arcuate projections adapted to ipassadownwar dly in-said l t and engage against .saidr cam faces respectively when the cap-.islturned-imthewfilling opening, a: sheet metal spring of cfrusto-zconical shape having its Lapical :endcaffixed'ito: a rc'entral portion of the-lower face: of said Soap, 2a flexible resilient sealing ring secured rover :the -.-outer periphery of a said: spring,v and said a spring .:being adapted to expand: radially :outwardxwhen compressed downwardly to substantially :flattened condition by the cammingofitheacap downwardly against 'saidcam Y faces to therebyeimpinge isaid sealing ring laterally and downwardly -;-against the annular flange of said frame.

4. In a device of the character describedxa frame affixed to a tank and havingzan inwardly directed annular flange defininga filling opening, an 'annular"ring -securedaupon said flange, said ring having spaced upwardly directed slets in its inner periphery arranged' in communication respectively with recesses 1 extending annularly about its -inner periphery and having 1 cam faceson the upper walls of said recesses, an annular gasketsecured to the upper face of said ring, a filler cap having an annular flange adapted to seat on said gasket andhaving:outwardly extending spaced 'arcuate' projections adapted to passdownwardly in said slots and engage against said-cam faces respectively when thepap is turned in the filling opening, a sheet"-metal spring' o'f frusto-conical shape-having its'apical end affixed to a central portion of the lower face of 'said'p'ap,

a, flexible resilient sealing ring secured over the outer periphery of said spring, said spring being adapted to expand radially outward when compressed downwardly to substantially flattened condition by the camming of the cap downwardly against said cam faces to thereby impinge said sealing ring, laterally and downwardly against the annular flange of said frame, and said ring having upwardly recessed notches at the ends of said cam faces in which said projections are disposed to latch the filler cap in position in the filling opening.

5. In a device of the character described, a tank having an inwardly directed annular flange defining a filling opening, an annular ring secured upon said flange and having cam faces bordering the inner periphery thereof, a filler cap having projections adapted to engage said cam faces, and a sheet metal spring of Irusto- 6 conical shape having its apical end afflxed to a central portion of the lower face of said cap and adapted to be tensioned downwardly about the annular flange of said frame when the said projections of the cap are impinged against said cam faces.

R. AMBROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

